Mowinq-machine



l.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. A. KNOWLTON. MOWING MACHINE.

No. 814,186. Patented Mar li} 1885.

WI TJV ESSES 3-Sheets Sheet 2. W. A. KNOWLTON.

MOWING MACHINE.

Patented Mar. 1'7, 1885.v

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSh'eet a. Q W. A. KNOWLTON.

MOIWING MACHINE.

No. 314,186. I Patented Mar. 17, 1885.-

N. PETERS. Pnomllmo m bn Washin ton, D. C.

UNrrE STATES ATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM A. KNOIVLTON, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

MOWlNQ-MACHINE.

LTECIFICATIOIT forming part of Letters Patent No. 314,186, dated March 17, 1885.

Application filed Jul) 31, L582. No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. Known- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Rockford, county of Winnebago, State of Illinois, have invented new and use ful Improvements in Mowing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

. My inventionrelates to improvements in that class of mowinganachines usually known as frontcut hinged -bar twowheeled machines. It also relates to that class of mowing-machines in which the hinged bar carrying the cutting apparatus is capable of a rocking or rolling movement on its lengthwise axis.

The object of this invention is to improve this class of machines to render them more efficient; and it consists in the various improvements, which I now proceed to describe and claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a mowing-machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the gear-frame, the cap of the gear-case being removed. Fig. 3 is a plan view of shoe portion ofthe cutting apparatus. Fig. 4 is a crosssection of cutting apparatus on the line 5 5, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the shoe. Fig. 6 is a section of the cutting apparatus, cut on the line 6 6, Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a plan view of one of the guard-fingers. Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal section of the guard-finger on the line 7 7 in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the coupling-bar. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the sleeved yoke which is connected with the shoe. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the lever-arm which engages the inner end of the sleeve of the yoke. Fig. 12 is a rear elevation of the slem'e-yoke with the cutter-bar elevated. Fig. 13 is an elevation of a spring-bolt to stop the sickle. Fig. 14 is a side elevation of a mowing-machine embodying my invention with one of the drivingwheels omitted, and with the cuttingapparatus in section on the line 9 9. Fig. 15 isa side elevation of the tilting, lifting, and holding mechanism. Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a portion of the link connecting the lever-arm with the lifting and holding lever. Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the removable portion of said link. Fig. 18 is an joint.

inside elevation of the lifting-lever and the Fi 20 is a perspective view of the eccentric washer connected to said lifting-lever, and Fig. 21 is the slotted bearing of the rear end of the push-bar.

A represents the main frame of my improved mowing-machine, formed of cast-iron, preferably in one piece and in the shape represented. This frame is of a conformation adapted to receive the main supportingaxle, the gear mechanism, and other parts of the machine attached thereto.

B is the main supporting-axle, fitted torevolve in suitable bearings, a, in the main frame. and also to receive the driving spur gear wheel a, and the beveled gear-wheel at, having the pinion a connected therewith, mounted to revolve freely on the axle within the main frame.

The drivingwheels are of the ordinary construction, and are mounted on the end portion, a, of the main axle Bin the usual manner. One of these wheels may be fixed to the axle to revolve therewith, and the other having a locking ratchet-connection with the axle;

or both wheels may be provided with the usual locking-ratchet connection with the axle.

The rear portion of the main frame is pro vided with bearings b, to support a countershaft, on which the spur-gear wheel I) and the toothed pinion 12 joined thereto are mounted, to revolve within the frame in such relation to the driving-wheel a that the latter shall engage the pinion b on the counter-shaft, and the wheel I) shall engage the pinion a, fixed to the bevel-wheel a, mounted so as to revolve on the main axle.

The forward portion of the main frame is provided with a suitable bearing, 0, in which the crank-shaft c is supported to revolve freely. The rear end of this shaft is provided with a bevel-pinion, c, which engages the bevel gearwheel a. The outer or forward end of the shaft 0 is provided with a crankhead, d, to which the pitnian d is connected by a ball-and-socket The opposite end of the pitman is pivoted to the sickle-head.

D is the tongue or pole of the machine, which is a wooden beam of the usual form,

having its rear end connected to the forward portion of the main frame by means of screwbolts passed through the pole and main frame.

E is the drivers seat, of the usual form, mounted on a suitable plate-spring, F, having its foot portion supported on the rear end of the main frame, to which it is secured by a screw-bolt.

G is the upper portion of the gear-casing which incloses the gear-wheels. This portion of the casing is hinged at its forward end to the main frame, so as to permit its rear end to be raised to uncover the gear-train.

H is the coupling-bar, which is made of round iron, and has at its inner end an eye. This eye portion of the coupling-bar is placed between ears t, which depend from the forward end of the main frame, and is pivoted therein by means of a bolt passed through the parts.

I is a cylindrical push-bar, having its forward end formed with an eye which receives the coupling-bar in a free manner. The rear end of this push-bar is provided with a pin passed transversely through it, designed as a locking device to hold it in its support.

73 is a lug depending from the under side of the central portion of the main frame, and fitted to receive and support the rear portion of the push-bar. It is provided with a vertical slot to admittheendofthepuslrbar and its transverse pin. After the bar has been passed through the slot itis turned onefourth of arevolution, placing the pin in a horizontal position at right angles to the vertical slot, to prevent the withdrawal of the bar from its support.

2" is an abutment-lug depending from the main frame in rear of the support i, in position to receive the rear end of the push-bar, to resist the thrust of the cutting apparatus. By this construction I produce a readi]y-detachable push-bar having a sufficient abutment and a secure locking device.

K is the shoe employed at the stubble end of the cutting apparatus. Its main outline is substantially the same as like parts of mowing-machines now in use. This shoe is provided with vertical ears 7:, which rise from the end portions of its upper face,-and are provided with holes is to receive bolts by which the shoe is pivoted to the yoke of the coup lingbar. e

L is the finger-bar, of the usual taper form, the large end being fixed to the shoe in a recess formed in its upper surface.

Z are guard-fingers, each of which is constructed with a transverse bar, Z, and is provided with a ledger-plate, Z, fitted in its upper face and fixed in position by means of a rivet or a screw. The edges of these ledgerplates are serrated. or sickle-toothed. The cap or upper portion, Z, of these guards are made much shorter and narrower than usual,- for a purpose to be hereinafter described. These guardfingers are fixed to the finger-bar at proper intervals in the usual manner.

M is a sickle consisting of the bar or back having sickle-sections m, and eye-barm joined thereto, producing a sickle such as found in like machines. This sickle is supported to vibrate on the finger-bar in guides in the usual manner.

The cap a, fixed upon the shoe end of the fingerbarto overlap the rear edge of the sickle, is provided on its under side with an oil-reservoir, it, provided with an oil a hole through its upper face. This reservoir is fitted with cotton waste saturated with oil. The inner end of this cap is provided with a springbolt, n,which projects forward to receive the sickle eye-bar to hold the sickle in place when the cutting apparatus is raised or folded to a vertical position. This spring-bolt is capable of being moved rearward out of the line of the sickle movement to permit the sickle to be withdrawn,when required.

The shoe forward of the sickle is provided with an oil reservoir, 91/, to receive cottonwaste; and the'cap a, fixed to the shoe to serve as a guide to the sickle and to hold the pitman in connection with the sickle-eye, is provided with an oil-hole communicating with the oil reservoir, through which the cotton waste may be saturated with oil.

N is the sleeve portion of the yoke, which.

connects the cutting apparatus with the frame of the machine. The outer end of this sleeve is provided with yoke arms 0, the lower outer ends of which are pivoted to the vertical cars k of the shoe K by means of suitable bolts, 0, passed through the parts in such a manner as to permit a vertical movement of the outer end of the cutting apparatus. The inner end of the yoke-sleeve is providedwith a semi-annular flange, 0", on its under portion.

1) is an arm having an eye portion with the same inside and outside diameters as the sleeve N, and provided with a semi-annular rim, 1), adapted to engage theinner end of the sleeve, its end bearing against the end of the flange 0. This radial arm 1) has its outer end fitted with a socket stud-journal, p". This arm 1), in connection with the sleeve N, is placed upon the outer portion of the coupling-bar H, so as to have an oscillatory movement thereon.

p is a collar fixed on the coupling-bar inside of the pushbar, which, in connection with a suitable pin passed through the end of the c'ouplingbar, serves to hold the several parts in position thereon.

R is a quadrant or sector formed ratchettoothed plate provided with a bracket-foot, by means of which it is fixed to the main frame by suitable screwbolts.

r is the metallic portion of the rocking and lifting lever, pivoted to the sector-plate by a stud-pivot, r, projecting from its side, which enters a socket in the sector-plate.

r is the wooden-handle portion of the rock ing and lifting lever, its end portion being fitted within the edge flanges of the metallic portion r, and fixed to it by means of a screwbolt, which is passed througlrthe parts and through a washer, r r placed upon the side of the metallic portion of the lever opposite that to which the wooden portion of the lever is placed. The hub portion 1 of the washer is eccentric to the bolt, and is employed for adjustably limiting the forward movement of the lever, which is accomplished by turning the washer in such a manner as to cause the large or small side of its eccentric hub to en gage the inner edge of the forward vertical arm of the sector-plate. This washer is provided with a flange or disk, 1', concentric to itsaxis, which overlaps the curved arm of the ratchet sector-plate and operates as a guide to hold the lever in place during its movement.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the several parts of this rocking and lifting lever are connected to each other, and are held in their pivotal connection with the locking-plate by means of a single bolt.

sis a detent-bolt adapted to engage the ratchet-teeth of the sector-plate. It is fitted to slide endwise in guide-loops formed in the upper end of the metallic portion of the lever, and is held in contact with the ratchet-teeth by aspring encircling its shaft.

8' is a thumb-lever pivoted to the end of the rocking andlifting lever, and connected with the spring-bolt by a rod or link, 8. The lower end of the metallic portion of the rocking and holding lever is provided with jaws, between which the links of the lifting-chain t are received. This lifting-chain has its lower end connected to the collar 12', fixed to the coupling-arm.

t is a link having its lower end provided with a slot adapted to receive the stud-journal p on the lever-arm p.

t is a removable forked block, adapted to enter the slot of the link in such a manner that one of its forked ends shall engage the inner end of the slot, and the other forked end shall engage the stud-journal p", to produce an unyielding connection between the lever and the sleeved yoke N. A washer upon the end of the stud-j ournal and a screw-bolt passed through the washer and stud serve to hold the several parts in position.

The upper end of the link i has a hook forming a pivotal connection with the rockingand lifting lever at a point above its fulcrum. The relative length of these parts and their connection with each other are such that the first back-and-forth movements of the lever within certain limits will operate to impart an oscillatory movement of the sleeved yoke on the coupling-barfwhichmovement will cause an oscillating or rolling movement of the cutting apparatus about its longitudinal axis, to elevate or depress the guard-fingers and vary the height of cut. The first movement of the lever rearward will operate to elevate the points of the guard-fingers, and the parts will be in the position represented in dotted lines in Fig. 15, in which po' sition the lifting-chain t will be taut. The farther backward movement of the lever will lift the cutting apparatus and carry it to its highest position. In this movement the points of the lever, to which the lifting-links are attached, will have so changed their relative position that the cutting apparatus will have assumed a horizontal position fore and aft, and when the cutting apparatus is raised to its vertical position, as shownin Fig. 12, for the purpose of transportation, it will be substautially vertical to ahorizontal plane in all directions.

The removal of the forked block from the slotted connecting-link will permit the cutting apparatus to oscillate on its pivotal connection with the coupling-bar, to adapt itself to the inequalities of the surface of the ground.

t is a hook pivoted to the rear arm of the yoke in such position that when the fingerbar is elevated to a vertical position for the purpose of transportation the free end of said hook will overlap the heel portion of the shoe and hold the cutting apparatus in its elevated position.

For the protection of the crank-head and the pitman-connection therewith I provide a guard or shield consisting of a curved plate, a, fixed to a shank, a, which is adjustably fixed to the tongue by means ofaelamping bolt in position to hold the guard-plate in proper position in front of the crank-head. This guard, by means of its clamping-bolt connection with the tongue, is capable-of a forward swinging movement on the bolt, to permit access to the crank-head for the purpose of connecting or disconnecting the pitman, or for other purposes.

Thethrow of the crank in this machine is such that the movement imparted to the sickle throughthe pitman will be sufficient to carry the points of the sickle-sections slightly under the edge of the caps, as represented in dotted lines in- Fig. 7, producing what is known as the short-stroke sickle. As'heretofore used, this feature has been in connection with guardfingers of the usual construction, having the forked caps of the usual length and of a width substantially equal to or greater than the guard.

In thense of these machines it is found that with the retarded movement of the sickle in approaching the limits of its throw the grass or other substance is bent over the cutter edge under the cap, which renders the process of cutting difficult and tends to clog the cutters, and the great length and width of the cap prevents the escape of the fibrous matter which accumulates under its forward end. All of this is obviated to a great extent, and the short-stroke-sickle machine is rendered'much more efficient by the use of my improved guardfinger with the short narrow cap.

1 claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with the main frame, the finger-bar, and shoe, of the coupling-arm provided with a fixed collar about midway of its length, and its inner end pivotjointed to the forward end of the frame,a clutch-sleeved yoke supported to oscillate on the outer portion of the coupling arm, and a push-bar having afree eye-connection with the couplingarm between the collar and the yoke-sleeve, and its rear end having a detachable connection with the main frame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the herein-described coupling-arm pivotally connected at its inner end with the main frame, a push-bar having a free eye-joint connection at its forward end with the coupling-arm and its rear end pivotally connected with the main frame, and a sleeved yoke supported to oscillate on the outer portion of the coupling-arm, outside of the pushbar and independently thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination ofa ratchet-toothed sector-plate mounted upon the main frame, a lifting-lever having a stud-pivot connection with the sector-plate, and a spring-detent to engage the teeth thereof, and a flanged washer and bolt connection, whereby said lever is guided in its movements and held in its position on the sector-plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

at. The combination of the ratchet-toothed sector-plate, the lever having a pivotal connection therewith, an eccentric washer, and an adjustable clamping-bolt, whereby the forward throw of the lever may be adjusted, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of the lifting-lever, the sleeved yoke having an arm, the link pivoted at one end to said lever, and at its outer end having a slotted connection with an arm on said sleeve, and a removable forked block adapted to enter the slottedlink, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination, with the tongue and the crank-head, of a depending guard secured to the tongue in front of the crank-head by a clamping-bolt, whereby it may be swung forward, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination of the cap n, the sickle provided with the eyepiece,and aspring-actuated bolt to engage said eye-piece, substan tially as and for the purpose set forth.

WILLIAM A. KNOVVLTON.

Vitnesses:

H. N. STONE, A. O. BEHEL. 

